Apparatus for shaping tubular sleeving



y 1941- P. VAN NORDE ETAL 2,243,232

APPARATUS FOR SHAPING TUBULAR SLEEVING Fil6d June 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY 6 a ATTORNEY.

May 27, 1941. P. VAN NORDE ETAL APPARATUS FOR SHAPIN TUBULAR SLEEVING Filed June 25, 1940 2 Sheetls-Sheet z Patented May 27, 1941 UNET QFlE' APPARATUS FOR SHAPING TUBULAR SLEEVING' New Jersey Application June 25, 1940, Serial No. 342,216

13 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for shaping textile or like sleeving into permanent and symmetrical tubular form.

This invention has for an object to provide a novel ironing apparatus for treating sized or starched tubular braided, woven or otherwise fabricated textile sleeving, while continuously passed therethrough, to permanently set said sleeving in desired tubular form of uniformly symmetrical cross-sectional shape. tion has for a further object to provide ironing apparatus through which fiat sized or starched sleeving may be continuously moved, wherein means is provided for drawing the sleeving through the ironing means, and thereupon delivering the same after treatment for coiling or reeling oi the shaped product, and wherein means is provided for tempering or softening the sizing or starching preliminary to the ironing operation.

The invention has for another object to provide, in ironing apparatus for the purposes mentioned, means for singeing the ironed sleeving to remove therefrom externally outstanding fibers or filaments to further smooth the surface ofthe sleeving for the reception of subsequently applied varnish, lacquer or other coatings, especial-- ly in cases where the tubular product is to be employed for e1ectrica1 conductor insulation coverings.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for additionally treating the ironed sleeving to give the same a desired degree of pliability.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the novel apparatus for shaping tubular sleeving according to this invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the size or starch tempering means, the ironing means, and the singeing means of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the size or starch tempering means; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the ironing means; and Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the singeing means and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the sleeving and draft wheels.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the abovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Tubular sleeving, especially of braided or woven textile yarn, finds uses in many fields, and illustrative of one such field of use is that where- The invenin the tubular sleeving is employed for electrical conductor insulation coverings. The sleeving employed in the latter field of use ordinarily comprises sleeving of tubular braided textile yarn coated with an insulating lacquer, varnish or the like. For this purpose, braided cotton yarn sleeving is ordinarily used, but the same is of such soft and flimsy character that it cannot, unsupported, maintain a circular cross-sectional shape, which is essential to be maintained prior to the application of the insulatin coating material thereto. As a consequence of this it has heretofore been necessary to braid the sleeving over a paper core, which core supports the same in desired tubular iorm until a coating of lacquer is applied thereto. After the applied lacquer coating has set and dried, so as to be cap-able of itself holding the sleeving in the essential tubular shape, the paper cover is withdrawn, leaving the finished product ready for use. This method of production is not only expensive in both material and labor cost, butis practical for production of only comparatively short lengths of sleeving in finished form. Sleeving of this kind is not wholly satisfactory for the reason that it is but little resistant to undesirable kinking and other deformation during preparatory handling thereof as well as during application of the same to conductors desired to besheathed therein; furthermore, such soft sleeving cannot be satisfactorily used for varnishing rather than lacquering, since the varnish impregnation lacks the necessary stiffening or supporting characteristic.

To avoid necessity for the supporting paper core, it has also been the practice to produce a tubular sleeving by braiding the same from glazed yarn, the inherent stiffness of which is calculated to' maintain the tubular shape into which it is braided. This latter type of sleeving can be either lacquered or varnished, but nevertheless, by reason of the required stiffness of the glazed yarn employed therein, the same is not capable of high speed production on the braiding machine, and consequently the sleeving so made is likewise comparatively expensive.

To avoid the objections and difiiculties of the above mentioned practices, we have, in the novel apparatus of the instant invention provided a highly efficient and economical means for shaping by ironing, suitably sized or starched soft textile sleeving into a permanent and symmetrically uniform tubular shape which is efficiently resistant to kinking or like deformation, and which is well adapted for coating or impregnating with substances necessary or desirable for given uses to which the finished product is desired to be put. For example, the tubularly shaped sleeving produced by our apparatus is capable of being easily and efliciently processed by application of lacquer r varnish thereto in the production of electrical conductor insulation coverings. Furthermore, our novel apparatus is operative upon continuously running lengths of sleeving, and consequently permits production of relatively unlimited lengths not only of the shaped sleeving per se but also of the finished product as processed by application thereto'of varnish impregnation, lacquer coating, or otherwise applied substances of character suitable to the particular use to which the finished product is to be put.

Braided sleeving, when delivered from the braiding machine, is flattened and reeled onto a spool adapted to contain a predetermined length run thereof. Before passing the same through our ironing apparatus, the sleeving is sized with a suitable sizing such as starch alone, or, preferably, a mixture of suitable starches, oils and waxes. The sizing may be applied to the sleeving after it issues from the braiding machine, but preferably it has been found more satisfactory to size the yarn prior to braiding the same into the sleeving, since by this method a very uniform distribution of the size throughout the body of the sleeving is assured.

Referring to the accompanying drawings; an illustrative embodiment of our ironing apparatus comprises, a suitable framework ID, at the forward end of which is provided an upwardly extending standard section II. Afiixed to said standard section II are lower bearing means I2 and upper bearing means I3, arranged to project from the forward face of said standard section. Journaled in the lower bearing means I2 is the shaft I4 of a lower draft wheel I5, and journaled in the upper bearing means I3 is the shaft I6 of an upper draft wheel I'I. These draft wheels I and I! each have grooved or channeled peripheries formed by sides I8 outwardly divergent from the bottoms I9, and so related as to bear tangentially against the sides of a tubular sleeving running in contact with the bottoms I9, whereby the sleeving is operatively engaged frictionally without deforming effect thereupon (see Fig. 6). Said draft wheels are so arranged in vertically spaced relation that the sleeving may pass beneath and thence upwardly and rearwardly around the lower draft wheel I5, and therefrom beneath and thence upwardly and forwardly around the upper draft wheel ll, being thus so snubbed by and between the same as to have the motion of the draft wheel imparted thereto. The lower draft wheel I5 is driven in anti-clockwise direction, whereas the upper draft wheel I1 is driven in clockwise direction, so that the sleeving is drawn forwardly through the operative elements of the apparatus, and then issues from the apparatus in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1. The means for driving the draft wheels comprises a transverse power shaft 23 journaled in bearing means 2I suitably supported at the forward end of the framework I 0. Afiixed on said power shaft 20 is a drive pulley 22, and affixed on the respective shafts I4 and I6 of the respective draft wheels t5 and I! are the respective driven pulleys 23 and 24. Suitably mounted on the standard section II is an idler pulley '25. A drive belt 25 operated by the drive pulley 22 in clockwise direction runs over the idler pulley 25, thence over said power shaft 23.

the lower draft wheel pulley 23, and thence over the upper draft wheel pulley 24 back to the drive pulley 22, thus driving the draft wheels in the directions hereinabove specified.

Said power shaft 20 may be driven from any source of power through suitable transmission means. For example, as shown, an electric motor 21 may be provided as a power source to drive a variable speed changer 28, from which is driven, through suitable reduction transmission 29,

The interconnections between these elements may optionally be of the belt and pulley form shown, or of chain and sprocket or gearing form, or of desired combinations of any of these types of transmission means.

At the rearward end of said framework II] is mounted means for holding a spool 30 containing a supply or run of flattened braided textile sleeving S to be shaped into desired symmetrical tubular form. This means comprises a yoke 3I having a transverse shaft 32 upon which said spool 30 is rotatably supported. Optionally, means may be provided for imparting a revolving motion to the spool about an axis crosswise thereof, whereby, as the sleeving S is drawn off the spool, such revolving movement may be utilized to eliminate any twist in the run of sleeving as it moves off of the spool, thus assuring that the sleeving runs straight and true as it passes through the ironing means to be subsequently described. The means for imparting such revolving motion to the spool 36 comprises a longitudinal spindle 33 upon the forward end of which is aflixed the spool supporting yoke 3I. Said spindle 33 is rotatably supported in bearings 34 mounted on the framework. Affixed to the opposite or rearward endof said spindle 33 is a friction disc wheel 35. Mounted in bearing means 36 supported from the framework is a transverse drive shaft 31 upon which is adjustably fixed a driver wheel 38 the periphery of which frictionally engages the face of said friction disc wheel 35 so as to impart rotative movement thereto and thus to the spindle 33 and spool supporting yoke 3I. By adjusting the position of said driver wheel 38 so as to bear upon a selected area of the friction disc wheel 35 intermediate its center and its periphery, the speed of revolving movement transmitted to the spool 3| may be predetermined so as to assure the right degree of movement best adapted to compensate for and remove any twist existing in sleeving S as wound upon the spool 30. The means for actuating said drive shaft 31 comprises a transverse .counter-shaft 39 journaled in the framework II). Said counter-shaft is driven from said power shaft 20 by a chain and sprocket drive M], and said drive shaft 3! is in turn driven from said counter-shaft by a similar chain and sprocket drive 4 I The ironing means I of the apparatus comprises a stationary ironer member 42, the same consisting of a steel or other metallic body having a longitudinal bore 43 substantially corresponding in diameter to the external diameter of the tubular sleeving S to be operated upon. At the rearward or entrance end of said bore 43. the ironer member body is preferably rounded to provide a smooth annular ironing shoulder 44 against which the wall of the sleeving S is pressed as it is drawn onward through the bore 43. The means cooperative with said ironing shoulder 44 for pressing the material of the sleeving S firmly and uniformly against the ironing shoulder 44 with ironing effect upon the material comprises a free presser member 45. This presser member 45 is preferably provided in the form of a hardened, smooth and polished steel ball of a diameter slightly in excess of the diameter of the bore 53 of the ironer member body 42. This presser member ball is inserted within the interior of the sleeving S so as to bear against the internal sides of its walls, and as the sleeving S is drawn longitudinally forward through the bore 43 of the ironer member body, the presser member ball is constantly urged toward the ironing shoulder it, thereby constantly and firmly pressing the moving sleeving against the latter with continuously ironing effect thereupon. Means is provided for heating the ironer member body 62. Broadly speaking any suitable means for this purpose may be employed, but the most satisfactory arrangement comprises an electrical heating coil 45 suitably imbedded in the ironer member body so as to transfer heat thereto. Such electrical heating means is easily subject to regulation in operation, so that a desired degree of I heat may be attained and uniformly maintained.

If desired the ironer member body 32 may be jacketed in a suitable heat insulating material il held in place by a suitable enveloping casing 48. The ironing means thus provided is supported in stationary position by standard yokes 48 upstanding from a bridge plate 55 which is affixed to the framework l8 intermediate the location of the draft wheels I-l'l and the mounted supply spool 30.

Mounted on the framework iii in suitably spaced relation to and in advance of the ironing means I is means for tempering or softening the sizing of the sleeving S- preparatory to submission of the latter to the ironing operation. This means comprises a steam ring 5| having an annular steam chamber 52 around its endwise open bore 53. The inner wall of said steam chamber is provided with suitably disposed emission ports 54 through which jets of steam are ejected and directed against the material of the sleeving S as the latter moves through the bore 53 toward the ironing means I. Connected with the steam ring 51 to communicate with the steam chamber 52 is a steam supply pipe 55 leading from any suitable steam source. Said steam ring 5| is carried on a standard arm 55 which is afiixed to a bridge plate 5'! mounted on the framework ID in such manner as to be vertically adjustable for alignment with the bore of the ironing means I. It will be obvious that the moist steam, as directed in contact with the material of the sleeving S moving toward the ironing means I, will moisten and soften the sizing contained in the sleeving material, whereby to assure a proper reaction of the material to the ironing effect produced thereupon during its passage through the ironing means I.

Suitably mounted on the framework It intermediate the steam ring 5! and the supply spool 39 is a guide ring 58 through which the sleeving S passes from the spool 39, and by which it is guided to move in axial alignment with and through the bores of said steam ring and ironing means.

When the ironed sleeving S is to subsequently receive application of applied coating substance, such e. g. as the lacquer coating applied thereto in manufacturing electrical conductor insulation covering material therefrom, it is desirable, in order to assure a smooth external surface free from outstanding fibers or filaments, to provide means for removing such fibers or filaments. To this end there is mounted on the framework Ii], in suitably spaced relation to and beyond the ironing means I, a means for singeing the ironed sleeving. This means comprises a gas-burner ring 59 having an annular gas chamber 68 around its endwise open bore M. The inner wall of said gas chamber 68 is provided with an annular row of burner ports 62 through which jets of ignited combustible gas are ejected and directed against the material of the sleeving S as the latter moves outward through the bore 5 i. Connected with the 'gas burner ring 59 to communicate with the gas chamber 56 is a gas supply pipe 53 leading from any suitable gas source. Said gas burner 59 is carried on a standard arm as which is aihxed to a bridge plate 65 mounted on the framework Hi in such manner as to be vertically adjustable for alignment with the bore of the ironing means I. The gas flames directed against the material of the sleeving S as it moves through the gas burner ring bore 5! will singe away all fibers or filaments outstanding from the external surface of the ironed sleeving, thus leaving said surface smooth and ready to receive any subsequently applied coating substance.

It is generally desirable that the sieetdng S, as shaped by the ironing operation into permanent and uniformly symmetrical tubular form, nevertheless possess a degree of pliability sufficient to permit the same to be rolled or reeled into coils when delivered from the apparatus. Since the ironing effect upon the sleeving S considerably stiffens the same, it may be necessary to flex the walls of the tubular formation thereof sufficiently to somewhat break the rigidity of the sizing or set by the ironing process. To this end a pair of opposed breaker rolls 56 are mounted in the path of movement of the ironed sleeving moving to the draft wheels i5-i l, the same being suitably supported from the standard section H by carrier bracket means 6?. These rolls have a peripheral shape to conformingly fit the circular contour of the tubular sleeving S with sufficient compressive effect thereupon as will squeeze or work the walls of the sleeving so as to somewhat break down the rigidity thereof without permanently deforming the desired circular cross-sectional shape thereof, thereby giving to the tubular sleeving that degree of pliability which will permit coiling up the length thereof as it issues from the apparatus.

As the ironed and shaped sleeving S issues through the draft wheels i5l'i outwardly from the apparatus, the same may be fed to a ceiling tub (not shown) or to any other means for rolling up the same into coils or winding the same upon reels.

From the above description it will be apparent that the instant invention provides apparatus which efficiently and automatically functions to shape a continuously moving run of textile or like sleeving into symmetrical tubular form ready for use as is or subject to further processing according to the use to which it is designed to be put.

We are aware that various changes in and widely different embodiments of the features of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

1. Apparatus for shaping and setting a sized sleeving into uniformly symmetrical tubular-form comprising, a stationary heated ironing body having a bore through which the sleeving may be advanced, said bore having an annular ironing shoulder at its receiving end, and a freely movable presser body for disposition within thesleeving interior so as to be urged forward by advancing movement imparted to the sleeving toward the ironing means body, said presser body being so shaped and sized as to uniformly press the walls of the sleeving into operative contact with said ironing shoulder.

2. Apparatus for shaping and setting sized textile sleeving into symmetrical tubular form comprising, an ironing means body having a bore through which the sleeving is continuously advanced, said bore terminating at its receiving end in an annular ironing shoulder, means for urged forward by the advancing movement of the sleeving toward the ironing means body whereby to uniformly press the walls of the sleeving into operative contact with said ironing shoulder.

3. In apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said presser body is of spherical shape and of a diameter exceeding that of the annular ironing shoulder.

4. Apparatus for shaping and setting sized textile sleeving or the like into symmetrical tubular form comprising, an ironing means body having a bore through which the sleeving is continuously advanced, said bore terminating at its receiving end in an annular ironing shoulder, means for heating said ironing means body, means for drawing the sleeving through said ironing means body, a freely movable presser body for disposition within the sleeving interior so as to be urged forward by the advancing movement of the sleeving toward the ironing means body, said presser body being larger than the bore of said ironing means body whereby to uniformly press the walls of the sleeving into operative contact with said ironing shoulder, and means in advance of said ironing means body for tempering and softening the sizing of the sleeving.

5. In apparatus as defined in claim 4 including, means beyond said ironing means body for singeing away projecting or loose fibers from the external surfaces of the ironed sleeving.

6. In apparatus as defined in claim 4, including a pair of opposed breaker rolls between whichthe ironed sleeving is caused to move.

'7. Apparatus for shaping and setting sized textile sleeving or the like into symmetrical tubular form comprising, an ironing means body having a bore through which the sleeving is continuously advanced, said bore terminating at its receiving end in an annular ironing shoulder, means for heating said ironing means body, means for drawing the sleeving through said ironing means body, a spherical presser body of a diameter exceeding that of the annular ironing shoulder, said presser body being adapted for disposition within the sleeving interior so as to be urged forward by the advancing movement of the sleeving toward the ironing means body whereby to uniformly press the walls of the sleeving into operative contact with said ironing shoulder, and an annular chambered steam ring in advance of said ironing means body, said steam ring having internal discharge ports for directing discharged steam in contact with sleeving advancing through said steam ring whereby to temper and soften the sizing of said sleeving preparatory to the ironing operation.

8. In apparatus as defined in claim 7 including, an annular chambered gas-burner ring beyond said ironing means body, said gas-burner ring having internal burner vents for directing gas flames in contact with sleeving advancing through said gas-burner ring whereby to singe away projecting or loose fibers from the external surfaces of the ironed sleeving.

9. In apparatus as defined in claim '7, including a pair of opposed breaker rolls between which the ironed sleeving is caused to move prior to discharge from the apparatus.

10. Apparatus of the kind described comprising, a framework, a heated ironing means body having an opening through which sleeving to be treated thereby is continuously advanced, means to mount at the rearward part of said framework a spool upon which a supply of sleeving to be treated is wound, cooperating draft wheels mounted at the forward part of said framework, means for driving said draft wheels, said draft wheels being operative to draw sleeving from said supply spool and through said ironing means body and thereafter discharge the treated sleeving from the apparatus, and a freely movable presser body of larger size than the opening of said ironing means body adapted to be disposed within the sleeving interior so as to be urged forward by the advancing movement of the sleeving toward the ironing means body whereby to uniformly press the walls of the sleeving into operative contact with the marginal portions of said opening of the latter.

11. Apparatus of the kind described comprising, a framework, a heated ironing means body having an opening through which sleeving to be treated thereby is continuously advanced, means to mount at the rearward part of said framework a spool upon which a supply of sleeving to be treated is wound, cooperating draft wheels mounted at the forward part of said framework, means for driving said draft wheels, said draft wheels being operative to draw sleeving from said supply spool and through said ironing means body and thereafter discharge the treated sleeving from the apparatus, and a freely movable substantially spherical presser body for disposition within the sleeving interior so as to be urged forward by the advancing movement of the sleeving toward the ironing means body, said presser body being larger than the ironing means body opening whereby to uniformly press the walls of the sleeving into operative contact with the marginal portions of said opening, and means to revolve said spool so as to remove twist in the sleeving drawn oil therefrom.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including, means in advance of said ironing means body for softening sizing contained in the sleeving preparatory to the ironing operation.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including, meansv in advance of said ironing means body for softening sizing contained in the sleeving preparatory to the ironing operation, and a pair of breaker rolls between which the ironed sleeving is caused to move prior to discharge from the apparatus.

PETER. VAN NORDE. LOWELL BlElLLINGrHAM. 

